Santa Barbara approves TBID

The Santa Barbara City Council voted Sept. 28 to establish a “tourism business improvement district,” which will collect fees from 88 different hotels and use them to fund a regional marketing campaign.

The measure places a surcharge, on top of the existing bed tax, of between 50 cents and $2 per night, depending on the price of the room. It covers hotels in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria and the surrounding unincorporated areas.

The plan is expected to raise about $1.8 million per year, which will be allocated to the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission for marketing.